NAMES IN THE NEWS

Knicks forward ANTHONY MASON is being sued for allegedly
punching a fan outside a New York bar. Loughlin claims he was
giving advice to Mason on how to improve his jump shot, and Mason
responded by slugging him in the jaw and kicking him (N.Y. TIMES,
12/7)....ERNIE ELS was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year
(PGA)....ESPN's David Moore on the sorry state of the L.A.
Clippers and their owner DONALD STERLING: "If [the league] really
wanted to improve the game, they would institute a rule to make
sure that Sterling sells to Disney and move the franchise to
Anaheim" ("NBA Today," 12/6).